Julep March 2014: The Riviera Collection review

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This time when the selection period began, I was ready. A quick look at the profiles revealed that I much preferred the beauty products over the nail polishes, so I opted for the Modern Beauty option that includes two beauty items, with no polish. I then browsed the add-on options and decided to get a polish in Princess Grace. I was fascinated by the lip products that came with this month’s box, so I just couldn’t pass them up.

Julep is just under $20 per box and comes with 2 nail polish colors and a beauty product, 3 nail polish colors, or 2 beauty products (depending on your style profile choice). They offer plenty of upgrade and add-on options too. Boxes are sent monthly unless you choose to skip (skips are earned every six months for subscribers Dec 18th, 2013 and later). You also have the option of gifting your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes.

julep maven modern beauty march 2014 riviera collection box contents

March’s Modern Beauty Riviera Collection box

julep luxury lipcare buff lip scrub and luxe lip conditioning treatment information card

The info card with details on the lip scrub and conditioning treatment.

julep lip products offer card, referral card, and candy stick info card

Back of the info card with a discount offer on lip products.

julep luxe lip conditioning treatment

The Luxe Lip Conditioning Treatment is hydrating and smells kind of coconuty. The metal tip is cooling and soothing.

julep buff lip scrub pen

The Buff Lip Scrub Pen is a lightly sweet smelling scrub with tiny crystals. I actually liked keeping in on after use to keep lips soft and moist.

julep polish in princess grace

I chose this as an add-on because it looked more vibrant orange than the corals I have, which are slightly more peachy/pink.

I do like the products, but I’m not sure about the price. I mean, $20 for two lip products? That’s pretty steep and actual prices if you buy them separately are even higher. In a way, I guess it’s good I got them in my Maven box, since that’s one of the better deals, but I probably wouldn’t repurchase unless they were heavily discounted. I do like both products and will use them.

Join as a Julep Maven to get polishes and/or beauty products sent to you monthly! Use code FREEBOX or FREEMAVEN to get the first box free (you pay shipping).

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Plated review

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Awhile back I mentioned that I wanted to try Plated and then I got a comment from them offering a first-time discount. By the time I was ready to go for the offer, I had seen a Facebook promo for a “free” box (you pay shipping). Since I didn’t hear back from them when I asked what they could offer me beyond that, I decided to just try the box at that discount.

Plated is $15 per plate (serving) or $12 per plate with a monthly $10 membership fee (or as discounted as $96 for an entire year). Boxes are sent weekly unless you choose to skip (which is very easy to do) and require a minimum of 4 plates. They offer a referral link that gives 2 free plates to both the person you referred and for your next order.

plated cardboard box with large red circle logo

inside of plated box with silver insulation lining keeping food cool

Inside the box is thick insulation.

collage of plated spinach and cauliflower empanadas with spinach salad recipe card

First up are the spinach and cauliflower empanadas with spinach salad.

collage of cooking plated spinach and cauliflower empanadas with spinach salad dish

plate of spinach and cauliflower empanadas with spinach salad

The result were some lovely empanadas!

I really enjoyed this dish and ended up gobbling up way more than I thought I could in one night. They’re kind of like an oversized dumpling and I love both cauliflower and spinach, so the filling was just to my taste. It was nice to have a little bit of fresh spinach on the side too, tossed in a tart dressing. It made a wonderful lunch the next day and I’d totally make them again. I might even try putting a little bit of meat in there for some more substance.

collage of plated arroz con pollo recipe card

This one was Panda’s pick.

collage of cooking plated arroz con pollo dish

The green pepper was moldy.

plate of arroz con pollo

A very South American looking dish.

I liked this dish, but I don’t think I’d crave it. The green pepper I got was moldy and I contacted Plated’s support with no response. I used a little bit of it from the fresh parts that were still ok. This was the first time I’d ever cooked rice this way, first heating it on the stove and then sticking it in the oven. I definitely could have added more seasoning to the rice since it was rather bland.

While I did enjoy the dishes I tried, I find Plated to be higher priced without the better ingredients, recipes, or service I’d be willing to pay for. I don’t like the monthly membership fee, which inflates the price of the already more expensive dishes. I cancelled my membership before they charged me for it and don’t plan on reordering with them for the time being.

I was also put off by their poor service – at first things looked promising when they got back to me saying they’d send me a box for free to give me a little extra beyond the Facebook offer. But when I replied with my meal choices, I never heard back. And on the moldy pepper front, still not a peep from their customer service. They could have really impressed me by sending me a free box to review and being responsive to my delivery issue. If that was the case, I might have kept ordering from them.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Fabletics Sashay Outfit (Versital T top + Lille sports bra + Mahe running shorts) review

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Once again it was the sports bra that drew me in for this outfit. I actually saw it in the white and peoni in an email, liked the shape, and was thrilled to find it came in black and purple (or sage, as they call it). Before I even looked at the February outfits that had been picked out for my profile, I came across this Sashay outfit and wanted it. Not only did it have the sports bra I wanted, each piece has my favorite color. Imagine my surprise when it was one of the three outfits chosen for me to pick from that month! I just had to get it.

Fabletics is just under $50 per outfit credit and comes with a 2- or 3-piece set of athletic wear. Each month, three outfits are selected for you to choose from at the 1 outfit credit price point. You can always get other outfits at their VIP pricing of $50-80 (2- and 3- pieces available) or buy any individual item separately. Outfits are sent monthly unless you choose to skip (which is very easy to do). They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free outfits.

Get your first outfit for half off with my referral link! All Fabletics items are chafe-resistant and feature four-way stretch for comfort and movement.

collage of front, back, side and hidden pocket of fabletics mahe run short in purple sage and black

Mahe Run Short in Purple Sage

Let’s start with the bottoms this time! I like these running shorts because they have the built-in brief short liner. That way, when the outer layer hikes up, you have an inner layer that stays put. These are a loose fit and have a comfortable waistband with drawstring. There’s a tiny little hidden pocket for a key – I don’t think an ID card would fit. Retail value for this pair is listed as $29.95.

collage of front and back of fabletics versital t in purple sage burnout

Versital T in Purple Sage Burnout

Compared to the Lorida V-Neck from my last outfit, this shirt is much more lightweight and thin. It’s a very relaxed fit super breathable. The material is slightly see-through at times (so make sure you wear a cute sports bra underneath!). It’s nice and long the way I like it – I hate having shirts that leave a gap around your midsection. Its retail value is listed as $19.95.

collage of front and back of fabletics lille sports bra in black and purple sage

Lille Sports Bra in Black (and Purple Sage)

The Lille sports bra is much more supportive than many of the other designs Fabletics offers. It even offers removable cups for full coverage. I like the contrast of mesh against the plain background and the double set of straps. This one is great to wear on its own since it has cups and you don’t have to worry about anything showing. The retail value on this is listed as $24.95.

I love this little running outfit even though I don’t really like running. I’ve used the tops for my weight training and I’ll incorporate the shorts too once it warms up again. I absolutely love the whole black and purple theme of it.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this outfit and wanted to share what I got!]

Julep February Secret Store: Rosa & Clean Slate review

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When Julep’s February secret store opened up, I took a look at what they were offering and immediately wanted the Rosa amethyst glitter shade from the Birthstone collection. Not only is it Panda’s birthstone, it’s my favorite color. I also took advantage of a 50% off code I had that was to expire soon and got the Clean Slate Conditioning Nail Polish Remover & Pump.

Julep offers a secret store collection to Mavens (subscribers) for a limited time each month. The store contains first access to limited edition items and special sale prices.

julep maven secret store february 2014 selected products including rosa amethyst polish and clean slate nail polish remover with pump

Rosa and Clean Slate from February’s Secret Store

julep polish in rosa, an amethyst glitter for february from birthstone collection

This gorgeous purple glitter, Rosa, is the February shade of the Birthstone Collection.

It’s kind of hard to see the shade on the black background, but it’s a wonderful purple that is blue-ish at times. The gold cap makes it look a lot cooler but it still looks good on the nails. I did find the ratio of glitter to polish made it hard to apply this polish with just one or two coats (unless they were very thick). The glitter bits got dispersed very easily and I wanted a more dense concentration of them.

julep clean slate acetone-free conditioning nail polish remover with pump

I decided to restock on this nail polish remover at half the price.

I got this in a trade awhile ago and noticed that my supply was running low. Since I had a coupon code to use, I decided to get this since it’s one of the most effective nail polish removers I’ve used! It helped get off some hard to remove glitter polishes far easier than I expected. Plus, the pump design is really cool and makes me feel all professional.

Become a Julep Maven to get polishes and/or beauty products sent to you monthly! Use code FREEBOX or FREEMAVEN to get the first box free (you pay shipping).

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Fabletics Emanate Outfit (Lorida v-neck top + Vaasa sports bra + Lima capri) + Asaro legging review

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So a long time ago I meant to review the outfit that Panda got for me, but when I was finally getting around to it I realized I didn’t have the right bottoms. I had him contact Fabletics and they sent the correct ones, so now I have both to compare. I think I’m just going to have to send the capris back since I ultimately like the leggings more. I chose this outfit because of the fun sports bra, which was such a unique design. I went bold with bright lime green on my tops!

One thing to note – according to the order, this is the Emanate outfit, but I also found the Elevate outfit that is the exact same… so I think they changed the name from Emanate to Elevate.

Fabletics is just under $50 per outfit credit and comes with a 2- or 3-piece set of athletic wear. Each month, three outfits are selected for you to choose from at the 1 outfit credit price point. You can always get other outfits at their VIP pricing of $50-80 (2- and 3- pieces available) or buy any individual item separately. Outfits are sent monthly unless you choose to skip (which is very easy to do). They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free outfits.

Get your first outfit for half off with my referral link! All Fabletics items are chafe-resistant and feature four-way stretch for comfort and movement.

collage of front and back of fabletics lorida v-neck top in ultra lemon heather

Lorida V-Neck Top in Ultra Lemon Heather

Oh what a soooft top! Buttery soft? Absolutely. It’s wonderfully smooth and feels fantastic. It is moisture-wicking to keep you dry from perspiration. It does hike up on the shoulders if you’re lifting your arms a lot in your workout. Retail value on this is listed as $29.95.

collage of front and back of fabletics vaasa sports bra in ultra lemon

Vaasa Sport Bra in Ultra Lemon

This sports bra provides medium bust support and does not have extra padding. It is super lightweight and fits snugly. I just love the criss-cross straps that keep it secure on your back. Its retail value is listed as $19.95.

collage of front, back, and hidden pocket of fabletics lima capri in black

Lima Capri in Black

These are the capris I was supposed to receive. I found that I’m not that into capris since my feet get cold easily. I also have thick legs so they’re kind of tight on my calves and I don’t feel like I get enough circulation. These offer maximum support, which explains why they’re pretty tight. As with all the other Fabletics bottoms I’ve seen, they include a hidden pocket on the right hip. Retail value is listed as $39.95.

collage of front, length, and hidden pocket of fabletics asaro legging in black

Asaro Legging in Black

And these are the leggings that originally came with my outfit. I didn’t even realize they were the wrong product until I was coming to review them for a post! Turns out I like them better, so I plan on keeping these in lieu of the capris. As you can see these go the opposite way and are super long. I like the random seam that wraps around the leg. It offers medium support so it’s more comfortable for me. The retail value on these are listed as $49.95.

Funny how I ended up liking the mistaken product more than the intended one, eh? The Asaro legging is more silky feeling than the Nadi legging I got in my first outfit, which is more cotton-y. I love how long the legs are and I love the comfort of the Lorida shirt. I tend to prefer v-necks and it’s long enough that I don’t have to worry when I lift my arms. And the whole reason I wanted this outfit in the first place was that super cool sports bra! I can’t remember the last time I owned a sports bra, so it’s fantastic to have one for working out in.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I (well, Panda) just purchased this outfit and wanted to share what I got!]

Escape Monthly February: New York Box Review

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Just as I was getting antsy for another box, I got the Feb Escape Monthly box yesterday. Lovely way to end the week!

Escape Monthly is just under $40 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – see end of post) and comes with a variety of food, home, skincare items themed around a city. Each box comes with a Moon Handbooks guide for that region. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a lovely recurring referral commission program.

escape monthly february new york box products showing escape monthly february new york box info card against blue and white chevron background escape monthly february new york box info card opened with details of products included(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

I used to live within an hour of the city, but I would have no clue what to include in this box. I think it’s appropriate that there is a greater focus on food items in this box, since everyone talks about the food you can find in NYC. As for the rest of the state, something apple-themed would have made sense, but I guess that didn’t make the cut. Oh well!

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to Metro New York City – This would have been handy when Panda and I went on our trip to New York last year. Luckily, we’re close enough that we’ll definitely be going back soon enough, so I’ll keep this handy. There’s so much to do in the city, I’m sure it will take many visits to experience and see all that we want to.

Better Brittle West African Style Peanut Brittle – Hmm, what does it mean by West African style? These little bars of brittle are inspired by something called “nkati cake” from Ghana and they’re made upstate in Syracuse. They’re vegan and all natural, with a strong nutty flavor. They’re not overly sweet like many other brittles I’ve had and the pieces have a solid crunch to them. They’re a simple blend of peanuts, evaporated cane juice, and salt so you know just what you’re getting.

Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce – I’ve never bought fudge sauce, so I’m excited to explore the options here! I’m going to have to try making hot chocolate with it, pouring it over ice cream, and even spicing up some other desserts with chocolatey goodness. I like having these kinds of products at home, which is really making this place feel at home. Whenever I want gooey chocolate on something, I’ll have a jar handy now.

Flint Creek Soap in Good Skin Blend – These soaps are made in upstate New York and only contain natural ingredients. This particular soap sounds fantastic, with bentonite clay (great for clearing impurities) and essential oils that apparently tone and tighten pores. I’m going to have to try this in all my breakout problem areas! I love the smell that is super refreshing and minty. These soaps are made in small batches and are safe for any to use anywhere on their bodies!

kanpekies peckigram cookies in Cherry B Mine – These are perfectly themed for Escape Monthly, with an adorable box that looks like a postcard! They’re made right in NYC and you can tell they’re packaged with love and flair. Inside the box are two sets of two shortbread cookies. I got the cherry chocolate variety that looks like a chocolate chip cookie until you start opening it and find that the sticker on the bag was covering a sweet pink heart! The shortbread is just crumbly enough to fall apart in your mouth.

The Peanut Principle Gourmet Maple Peanut Butter – Maple peanut butter?! That’s totally new to me. I could totally smell the maple in this product through the seal, but once I opened it the peanut butter took over. It’s super creamy and has a slightly different taste, though if you didn’t know it was maple I don’t know if you’d notice. I don’t normally eat peanut butter, but I’m sure Panda can make good use of this on toast.

Brooklyn Studio Travel Tin Candle in Green Tea Lemongrass – Ooooh I’m liking this candle tin. I enjoy green tea and lemongrass so this combination is lovely. It’s a soy candle, which is fabulous, and it came in a nice little travel baggie! I wonder if people actually travel with candles though, since, um, aren’t you not allowed to burn them in a hotel? I don’t quite understand the concept of a travel candle, but I love it anyway.

New York Taxi Treats Cookies – More shortbread! Is that something New Yorkers are known for? Well, anyway it’s a fun theme and seems like an excellent item to include in a kid’s lunch pail. These cookies are light and crunchy, almost like a cracker. I can definitely taste the milk or vanilla influence giving it a sweetness.

I<3NY – This little sticker was the bonus item, a total classic. It’s so simple yet powerful. I have no idea where I might put it, but at least I can say I was a New Yorker before.

I think this box was great in showcasing brands in New York state. Almost every single item was made there and most of them are actually from upstate, so there wasn’t too heavy of a focus on NYC. What do you think of the New York Escape Monthly box? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): IRELANDESCAPE or YOURESCAPE for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

When I saw the theme for March I got SO excited! I looove Ireland and I hope to get something sheep-related.

escape monthly february new york box info card back with preview of next month's box theme of ireland

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Blissmobox: Winter Beauty

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The final blissmobox. As I mentioned recently, I never got the last one I was supposed to receive, so I contacted customer service and they eventually agreed to send me one of the variations they have now. It was a toss up between Winter Beauty and Blissmo Beauty for me (the other option was a snack-themed one). I went with Winter Beauty hoping for more rich, hydrating, healing skincare. This was my last blissmo box and I think it was the February one, but I’m really out of touch with their cycle so it might have been from the Jan selections.

blissmobox is just under $25 per month with shipping (or as discounted as just under $120 for 6 months) and comes with eco-friendly products in themes like beauty, snacks, home, pets, and more. Each month you choose from two or three themes, or skip if none of them appeal to you. They do not offer a referral program.

opened blissmobox february 2014 with contents displayed

Yes To Blueberries, Age Refresh Eye Firming Treatment – I’ve been fascinated by this brand and I’m always happy to get their products, but I don’t know if I really need eye treatment stuff so I think I’ll put this in my samples pile to share with people I trade with. It’s hard to believe that this packet is fully 1/5th of the regular size they sell! I bet it’d last quite a long time.

Nature’s GateBiotin Strengthening Conditioner – I already got this in last February’s Skin Essentials box and it was pretty good. However, I am confused as to why they only included the conditioner this time… would it have been so much trouble to have at least the shampoo again, if not the body wash as well? I mean, isn’t conditioner more effective combined with shampoo? It’s disappointing to get just the single sample here.

Joyful Bath Co, Oatsy Floatsie bath soap – I love this soap and have another sample sitting around somewhere. I’d bought the full size previously and used that all up. I love how well it suds and it smells wonderfully of lavender. When I use up some of the other soaps I have around now, I’m definitely going to look at getting another one of these. I believe you can even find them in Whole Foods now! I love perusing the bath section of stores.

Choice Teas, Organic Breathing Space – I could definitely use some caffeine-free tea. This seems like a great one to have when you’re feeling a little under the weather or need a pick-me-up on a cold day. Like with the hair care sample, I wish they hadn’t given just one little packet. Another flavor or a trio of this same flavor would have made a far greater punch here.

Calolea, Glycerine & Olive Oil Complexion Bar – Ok, I was not impressed at first, but once I read about how great this soap is I’m looking forward to using it. Plus, I sniffed it and it’s such a lovely clean, fresh, but not too strong scent. This is hypoallergenic and is supposed to be good for your complexion. I certainly need something like that! It’s gentle and they even recommend using it for men when they’re shaving. So useful! And with olive oil, I’m sure it won’t dry me out.

ellovi, lip butter – Pure and simple, just a few ingredients (six, to be exact). It’s a cute little lip butter with nothing extra in it to complicate things. I happen to love the oval shape for lip balms, which applies faster and really gets those corners well. I like to have lip balms available everywhere, since you never know where your lips will feel dry, so this will find a happy home in a pocket, on a counter, or maybe even in the car.

Mee Beauty, Bee Kissed honey & beeswax lip balm – Ooo, a lip balm infused with honey! That’s pretty new to me and a fun way to draw in the bee theme. Once again, I’ll find a place for this so I can keep my lips well taken care of. I like how there’s not a strong scent to this. I’m sure I could even convince Panda to use this for his winter lips.

This time there was no info card and I wish there was some “wow” factor. While I do like some of the new brands here, I feel like they could have been a bit more generous with the samples.

Yuzen Spring 2014 edition review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Aww, it’s finally Yuzen time again! I actually got it over a week ago, but with the move and filming the video for them, I kept forgetting to get still pictures. This lovely box for the spring provides a wonderful assortment of products for treating yourself. They smell great and feel wonderful too. I’m ready for all this snow to finally end and feel like spring is on its way! The box I’m showing here came in a red organza bag and has white tissue paper for Valentine’s. If you get this later in the quarter, you’ll probably receive the spring one with a white organza bag and yellow/lime green tissue paper. That’s what you’ll see in the video I filmed for Yuzen’s YouTube channel, which will be up soon. 🙂

Yuzen is $33 per quarter (with boxes sent Feb, May, Aug, and Nov) and comes with around 7 or 8 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent quarterly with no option to skip, but you can get one-time gift boxes too. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.

yuzen box with white flowers on aqua background and spring info card

Beautiful red coloring that works for spring AND Valentine’s.

yuzen spring 2014 box info card inside

Info about the products in the spring box.

yuzen spring 2014 box info card back

And the last couple of brands included.

unboxed spring 2014 yuzen box with contents shown

I see myself taking an enriching bath and then nourishing myself afterward.

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product!  You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

Lotus Wei – Infinite Love Mist: So very suitable for the month of love. I actually have this mist already, from way back in the early days of Yuzen. It’s a sweet scent with a hint of tartness, which makes sense since it’s a blend of mandarin, rose, and honey. These are meant to be sprayed around to surround you with the type of scent that will enhance your experience of love for yourself and those around you. You can use it as a pillow mist, spray it as you enter a room, or just spray it around your body. Inhale, relax, and feel the love! Use code YUZEN by 4/30/14 for 20% off at Lotus Wei.

Acure – Radical Resurfacing Facial Treatment: I am pretty excited about this product, if it can help even out my skin! I have acne scars and some random dark spots that plague me, so I’m hoping this will help. I’ve never heard of lemon probiotic or chlorella growth factor, but I do believe plants have powerful abilities to heal and harnessing that certainly sounds good. I’ve heard of natural remedies using lemon to brighten skin, so this probably works similarly. At the very least it feels so hydrating and smells sort of tangy like ginger. I’m loving this as a moisturizer on its own, even though it goes on under one. Use code YUZENLOVE for 25% at Acure.

sumbodysum fizzer: This large block of fizzing fun is in their Coconut Cream scent (though I don’t know if they were sending out other variations too). I tested a small piece and it fizzes very well! Can’t wait to incorporate this into a bath. My skin felt great after using the water with the fizz in it and I loved the light scent it left! It’s not too strong on the coconut, but definitely gives you a tropical feel. I think you’re supposed to use the whole one in the bath, but I’ll probably split it up between a few uses. I’m loving this! Use code Yuzen2 by 5/1/14 for 20% off at sumbody.

sumbody – bath melt: I broke off a quarter of this to use in my bath this weekend and I enjoyed the use of goat milk in their Milky Rich variation. It reminded me of a luxurious bar of chocolate and I was almost tempted to eat it! Inside the foil you’ll find a little piece of paper telling you more about the product and how to use it (they had one for the fizzer too). It took some swirling of the water to get this dissolved and then I could see the oils that were released. It was almost like taking a milk bath, which I’m sure my skin was happy about. Use code Yuzen2 by 5/1/14 for 20% off at sumbody.

SranromCalm Down Hand Cream: Anything inspired by Thailand has got to be good. This lotion is thicker than most, but not quite a body butter. The lemongrass and lime scent is so refreshing and soothing all at once. I love it! It’s very enriching and perfect to combat the dryness that winter brought on. I got a good laugh when I saw the scent name of Calm Down, because I tell Panda to do that all the time. When I showed him, he had a chuckle too and I think I’m going to give him a tube to use. He worries too much and needs some calming! Use code YUZEN20 for 20% at Sranrom.

Sranrom – Compassion candle: I’m really enjoying all the refreshing scents in this box, like this lemongrass, lemon, and spearmint candle! It’s beautifully made and smells wonderful. I used it while soaking in a bath and it was a great calming prescence. It burns cleanly and comes in such a cute little glass container! What a lovely way to enhance the mood in any room. Use code YUZEN20 for 20% at Sranrom.

Balanced GuruBalm Me Up Body Balm: I was surprised at how solid this body balm is when I first opened it. It’s actually quite soft though, and melts with your body heat. It’s a very strong tangy scented product that is super buttery. It’s absolutely wonderful for your elbows, knees, and other rough patches of skin. Just a thin layer took away all trace of dry skin for me. I can see this being perfect for getting through the cold months, though the scent can get overwhelming for me so I can only use a little bit at a time. Use code YUZEN by 4/30/14 for 20% off at Balanced Guru.

ChocoloveCherries & Almonds in Dark Chocolate: I just got my first intro to Chocolove in my Escape Monthly box and what do you know, it’s showing up here too! This flavor is just what you’d want around Valentine’s and I enjoyed it, but I’ve got to admit I’m not a huge fan of anything other than fresh, ripe cherries. Nevertheless, the chocolate is delicious and they have plenty of amazing flavors to choose from! Definitely a brand that I’ll keep my eye out for when I’m out shopping.

essioaromatherapy shower kit: Finally, there’s a discount code for Essio’s aromatherapy for the shower. It’s a little arm contraption that you put on your showerhead and then you swap in little pods with different essential oil aromatherapy scents. I met the founder at a LOHAS event that I was helping Yuzen out at and I liked the idea, but was not at a point in my life where I was treating myself to such luxuries. However, I’m thinking that now might be the time, since I’ve really gotten into skincare and taking care of my body. Thankfully, I have until June to decide on this! Use code YUZEN20 by 6/30/14 for 20% off at Essio.

So there you go, a lovely way to kick off spring by healing your skin from a tough winter’s beating. What did you like most in this box?

*Disclosure: As a super fan, I was invited to be the Yuzen Ambassador to help them spread the word about their brand. I now receive the boxes for free. I was not compensated otherwise and all opinions are my own, irregardless of my relation to Yuzen. I just happen to think they’re awesome (as does everyone else I’ve heard from). 🙂

Ipsy February 2014: The Look of Love review

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Once again, 2014 is not offering me the most exciting bags from Ipsy. There’s only one item I’m really looking forward to trying. I would have loved the nail polish if it wasn’t baby pink, so I hope I can trade for a shade more suited to my taste. Similarly, I wasn’t a fan of the bag as much due to the color. I like the slight contour of the zipper and you can see a peek of the bold patterning inside, but pink just isn’t my thing.

Ipsy is $10 per glam bag and comes with 5 or so beauty/skincare products. Bags are sent monthly with no option to skip. There’s usually a waitlist to get the subscription. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free products.

ipsy february 2014 bag items with card including skyn iceland mask, j.cat false eyelashes and glue, pop beauty plump pout lip gloss in fuchsia freesia, tini beauty eyetini cream shadow and base, and zoya nail polish in dot

skyn ICELAND Fresh Start Mask with Ice Age Mud – This is a fascinating product that I’ll be trying soon. You take the clay and put it on your face, then add the activating gel. Apparently, the combination will actually bubble/fizz/foam in a warming solution. How fun! I love things like these and a few more samples of this would have made this bag well worth it.

J.Cat Beauty Eyelashes + Eyelash Glue – I’ve never tried to apply false lashes, but I did have them put on before for a photo shoot. They seem like a fun thing to play with someday, so I might keep them around. They’re crazy long though, so I’d feel silly walking around with eyelashes like that. Maybe if there’s a need for them at a costume party…

POP Beauty Plump Pout Mini in Fuchsia Freesia – Ok, I really like the look and shape of this lip gloss, but it smells awful. Is it supposed to be like that? It kind of reminds me of gasoline at times and the strong odor makes it very hard for me to use this product. Pity, because I just love the packaging here. Once again, I could do without the bright pink shade though.

Tini Beauty Eyetini Cordial Cream Shadow + Base In One in Violette – I’m so split on this product! On the one hand, it’s a lovely shade of purple, but on the other hand, it’s an eye product. I just don’t see when I’d ever use it, so I’ll probably trade it. If only this was a lip gloss tube instead.

Zoya Nail Polish in Dot – I was really hoping for the purple shade shown in the Ipsy spoilers. But of course, I got the pink (bleh). It does seem like a solid base color to use for nail art or a somewhat nude-looking color if I don’t want to draw too much attention to my polish color. Still, I’m going to try trading it first and if it doesn’t go I’ll use it.

So all in all, I was not thrilled with this bag. I would have been a lot happier if the Pop Beauty lip gloss didn’t smell funky and the Zoya polish was another shade. If you want to trade, check out my FSOT list.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this bag and wanted to share what I got!]

Treatsie February 2014 review

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If you upgraded to the new premium version of Treatsie, you’ll find you got more items than me. This time I got an email from Treatsie reminding me about the change and letting me know that premium boxes had an extra chocolate bar. If you got it, please do share what flavor you received. 🙂

Treatsie is $15 per box + $4.95 shipping and comes with artisan candy from 3-4 brands (I am grandfathered in for $15 for 3 brands and fewer items). That means about 6 or 7 different flavors of treats (or 4 or 5 for me). Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral link program.

treatsie february 2014 box contents with chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, and hard candy

Eclipse Chocolate Salted Dulce de Leche and Cinnamon Brown Sugar bars: These are the bars that premium subscribers would have gotten a bonus one of. Everyone got the two flavors that I did here, which I think are great choices for a wide audience. The Salted Dulce de Leche is amazing! There is so much going on in that bar, with pretzel pieces, sea salt, and rich caramelized cocoa butter all in white chocolate. I love the combination of everything and it’s so unique. The Cinnamon Brown Sugar is delicious too, which far finer granules mixed in for a smoother taste and texture. This one is sweeter and rather warming, probably due to the cinnamon. Yum! I’m a fan of this brand for sure.

Raley’s Confectionary Love Mix: How cute are these hard candies? They’re a sweet fruity flavor (mix of pomegranate, cherry, cinnamon, and cranberry) with a little bit of tartness that comes in later on. It can’t be easy to make these beautiful designs, so that’s impressive. These are perfectly themed for Valentine’s and they’re a refreshing change from the typical holiday treats you’ll find in stores.

Neo Cocoa Zested Lime Truffle Heart and Almond Butter with Smoked Sea Salt Truffle Heart: Wow, these truffles are rich. One piece can really go a long way (even half a piece is satisfying!). I like the lime one because it is wonderfully fragrant and I love the taste of lime. They blended it beautifully with the chocolate for a light flavor that is yummy. The almond butter one with sea salt is a more standard sort of taste. I feel like I’m at some fancy event when I eat these!

I’m still debating about the premium box. While I really enjoyed the Eclipse Chocolate, would getting a third flavor be worth the extra cost? I might want to run out my subscription at the original pricing through 2014 before upgrading! What are your thoughts on the items in this box?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

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